Ciao Sicilia

Sicily! A place I've wanted to go to for a long time. Somehow it had not yet happened due to other more hiking related priorities.
When thinking about what to do for two weeks in autumn, go somewhere reasonably warm and dry-ish and looking for a more chilled and relaxing holiday, Sicily had soon become a fast favourite for us.
A little bit of research later we had booked flights and an apartment in Catania for a week and another one in Venice for week two to have a bit of a change.

After a knackering CrossFit competition on Sunday I did the last of my packing and went to bed early. Rich had wisely withstood the temptation of a pub night.
Alarm went off Monday morning at 3:20am. Taxi to the train station, then the bus which was due 10mins later than the internet had said. Picking up loads of passengers on the way further delayed the journey so much so that we had to basically sprint to the gate after security check (of course Rich got treated to a full body scan and shoes through the x-ray etc).

We just about made it with legs burning and lungs busting.

Arrived in Catania to the warmth of mid 20s, eventually found the right bus stop and before we knew it, got off at the train station. Rich lugged the suitcase along narrow and bumpy pavements to the apartment without complaining.

Arrived at noon, we were greeted by a very nice lady who explained everything about our third floor (No elevator and veeeeeery high ceilings, poor Rich!) apartment, what to see and what to do in Catania, whilst Rich was gulping down cold water, slowly recovering.

What a spacious apartment! Huge downstairs lounge with two sofas, open kitchen and dining table. Nice view towards Aetna from the balcony. And a mezzanine level bedroom. Winner!

View from our apartment

Just wanting to chill for a bit we both fell asleep, one on each of the couches, haha. An hour later we groggily got ready for a wander and ended up just across the road at Cioccolata e Gelato, a coffee, cake and ice cream cafe with lavish sugary treats. Coffees and cakes it was! Everything looked so good in there it was hard to choose! Eventually went for a cheesecake and Rich for a chocolate and pistachio browny. Both came with whipped cream and since Rich doesn't like cream I treated myself to his. We basically rolled out of there, but it had been absolutely gorgeous!

Feta cheesecake. So good!!!

On for a wander to walk at least some of it off, we marvelled at the Italian architecture all around. Despite quite a bit of it in a somewhat derelict state, we still found it very fascinating. Walked over Piazza Duomo then on to the castle and back for another coffee ending up chatting to an American lady on the table next to us about mountaineering adventures and skiing in the Rockies, haha. Good times!

University courtyard

A typical Catania street

The Norman castle

The impressive Duomo

Piazza Duomo

Afternoon had the sights opening again, so we had a look around the impressive Duomo and Chiesa della Badia di Sant' Agata with a walk around the rooftop.

Time for a beer so we headed to Razmataz, a bar hidden away from the buzz in a quiet side street with outside seating on the piazza. Lovely place and full of locals.

Back to the apartment for showers and out for food. Or shall I say Fud (pronounced just as "food"). Another recommendation by our host. Situated in a vibrant back street with cosy lighting and more outside seating we were lucky to get a table straight away as the place was rammed. American style food with a Sicilian touch was the theme. Hot dogs, burgers and other dishes all locally sourced with things like donkey or horse meat.
We went for beef burgers, I had one without bun and Rich went for the same one but twice the size. What a humongous thing!!! The beef and the bacon tasted indeed quite different and both dishes were yummy!!! Again locals and tourists mingled in a vibrant atmosphere. Great place!
Rich somehow managed to eat pretty much all of his burger beast. Well done! The Sicilian wine we both had just added to the food coma and general half-deadness we both felt after a super long day, so we dragged ourselves back to the apartment and soon to bed.

Fud has a shop with its own products inside

European flair